Brooder apparatus

ABSTRACT

A support framework is adapted to slidably receive a plurality of brooders in overlying relationship to one another. The support means is provided with support members for supporting a plurality of feeders and waterers and for also slidably supporting a plurality of dropping pans. The brooder is provided with removable closure members in the upper part thereof and has a slot therein for receiving a divider. Holes are formed in the side of the brooder to be aligned with the feeders and waterers on the support means. Removable panels are provided for selectively closing off the holes in the side of the brooder. The brooder is provided with a heater at one end thereof and an opening at the opposite end thereof. Plug means is provided for selectively connecting a source of electrical current to the heater of the brooder.

United States Patent XXX 385 6 4 999 "a m t." m w H mm WW PS0 3 3 344 999 111 III 728 1 n N ha .mP

vi m N n II V w h A U H 7 2 5253mm 1: 1 9 7 Primary Examiner-Hugh R. C hamblee [73] Assignee Rohm add Haas Com an Attorneys-G. W. F. Simmons, C. A. Castellan and A. M.

Philadelphia, Pa. Esterlitz ABSTRACT: A support framework is adapted to slidably receive a plurality of brooders in overlying relationship to one another. The support means is provided with support members for supporting a plurality of feeders and waterers and for also slidably supporting a plurality of dropping pans. The brooder is provided with removable closure members in the upper part thereof and has a slot therein for receiving a divider. Holes are formed in the side of the brooder to be aligned with the feeders and waterers on the su mw u mwu 1137 1 k 19 0] Al s A u "u Rmm mm m m P m N A m R m nun m... ww m Ros Mk 810 [F M .4 mm H D. 551

ppon means.

Removable panels are provided for selectively closing off the holes in the side of the brooder. The brooder is provided with 1 19/18 a heater at one end thereof and an opening at the opposite end 119/17 thereof. Plug means is provided for selectively connecting a 1 19/17 source of electrical current to the heater of the brooder.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,723 8/1918 Collis 1,347,397 7/1920 Newman 1,850,351 3/1932 Markey et a1.

PATENTEU SEP: 4mm 3.604.398

sum 2 [1F 3 PATENTEU SEP14I97I 3,604,398

sum 3 or 3 Zmu L. Rani.

BROODER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to brooder apparatus, and more particularly to a laboratory poultry brooder. The brooder apparatus may be utilized in a conventional manner, and may, for example, be employed for brooding one-day old chicks.

Conventional brooder constructions include a battery stand on which are supported a plurality of brooders in tiers. The various brooders disposed one over the other are generally employed all at one time and are used in situ. When it is desired to place chicks, poults and the like into the brooder or to remove them from the brooder, the feeder and waterer means are removed, and a person reaches blindly into the brooder through the space provided while the brooder is in the battery stand.

This sort of procedure is very undesirable since it often requires a person to be in an awkward standing or kneeling position. Even more importantly, many chicks are caught unavoidably by the wings, legs, etc., when pulling them out of the brooder. In the process, their wings or legs may be sprained or broken, and some toenails are usually torn off causing bleeding. This is, of course, very undesirable. In conventional type brooders, the birds are often caught at arms length from around the heating element and other accessible places within the brooder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention incorporates an arrangement wherein a supporting framework is provided with support means for supporting the feeder and waterer means thereon. The brooders are slidably supported on the framework, and dropping pans are slidably supported beneath each of the brooders. The brooders are disposed in overlying relationship to one another on the supporting framework.

Each of the brooders includes access means in the top thereof. Each brooder is also provided with holes in the opposite sides thereof which are adapted to be aligned with the water and feeder means supported by the framework. These holes formed in the sides of the brooder may be selectively closed off by removable panels.

Heater means is supported at one end of the brooder, and a disconnectable electric plug is provided so that the brooder can be quickly disconnected from a source of electrical power when it is desired to remove the brooder from the supporting framework.

The brooder is also provided with a slot for receiving a divider means whereby the interior of the brooder may be selectively divided into a pair of separate pens.

The present invention offers a number of significant advantages over arrangements as employed in the prior art. Firstly, there is a considerable saving in the time required for removing chicks from the brooder. It only takes approximately 20 percent as long to remove chicks from the brooder of the present invention as compared with conventional constructrons.

The present invention also avoids excessive handling of the chicks by cutting down the number of times it is necessary to handle chicks for purposes of individual wingbanding, vaccinations, weighing, drug treatments and the like. This is accomplished by removing the brooder from the support means and then opening one of the closure members at the top of the brooder, and preferably the rear one. The birds are then herded into the other half of the brooder and the divider means is inserted when all the birds are at one end of the brooder. This divider means is inserted slowly so as not to damage any of the birds. The closure means at the end of the brooder within which the birds are disposed can then be opened and the birds can be quickly and easily handled one at a time, whereupon the birds can be returned to the brooder at the other side of the divider means after they have been suitably treated.

This arrangement enables the birds to be caught from the top of an open pen rather than by blindly reaching into the brooder thereby substantially reducing any possible damage to the birds. Furthermore, the arrangement of the present inven tion is much more convenient since the birds can be quickly and easily caught from a large opening in the top of the brooder while the brooder is placed in a convenient location for working with it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating brooder apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of one of the brooders shown in FIG. 1 after it has been removed from the supporting framework and illustrating the manner in which removable panels can be inserted to cover the holes in the side thereof, and further showing the manner in which the closure members at the top of the brooder may be raised and a divider inserted in position;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view on an enlarged scale illustrating the manner in which feeder and waterer means are supported on the framework; and

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a portion of the framework shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the brooder apparatus includes a support means in the form of an open framework which as seen in FIG. 1 is formed of a plurality of angle members suitably rigidly interconnected with one another as by welding or the like. A pair of vertically extending support angle members 10 and 12 are provided and are interconnected by a plurality of spaced parallel cross angle members 14 shown as being four in number. While the framework is illustrated as being suitable for supporting three brooders in overlying relationship to one another, it is apparent that the framework may be arranged so that any suitable number of brooders can be supported thereon.

The rear part of the framework includes a pair of vertically extending angle members 16 and 18 having a plurality of spaced parallel cross angle members 20 secured therebetween.

As illustrated, three tiers are provided for supporting three brooders, and each tier includes a first pair of angle members 22 and 24 secured to one another and supported between cross angle members 14 and 20. A second pair of angle members 26 and 28 are secured to one another and are also sup ported between cross angle members 14 and 20. The pairs of angle members 22, 24 and 26, 28 are disposed in spaced paral lel relationship to one another and are facing one another. The arrangement is such that the bottom legs of the two angle members 22, 24 and 26, 28 define a pair of guide slots for slidably receiving a dropping tray indicated generally by reference numeral 30, each of these dropping trays having a handle 32 formed thereon. The dropping trays can be slid into and out of position immediately beneath one of the brooders supported on the framework.

Referring to FIG. 5, a typical support member is indicated generally by reference numeral 40 and comprises a metallic strap member including a lower portion 42 which is rigidly secured as by welding to the outwardly facing surfaces of the two angle members 22 and 24. Support member 40 also includes an offset upper portion 44 from which extends a headed stud 46. These support members are adapted to support the feeder and waterer means hereinafter described. A pair of spaced support members 40 are secured to longitudinally spaced portions of the angle members 22, 24 in each tier, and a similar pair of support members are connected to longitudinally spaced portions of the angle members 26, 28 at the opposite side of the framework.

A plurality of feeder and waterer devices indicated generally by reference numeral 50 are provided. A pair of feeder and waterer devices is provided in each tier so as to cooperate with an associated brooder in each tier and to be disposed at either side thereof. As illustrated, six feeder and waterer devices 50 are provided, two of these feeder and waterer devices cooperating with each brooder received in the supporting framework.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, each of the feeder and waterer devices includes a pair of similar end plates 52 having a trough means 54 supported therebetween and rigidly secured thereto. Each of the end plates includes a plurality of slots 56 formed therethrough. Each end plate also includes a slot 58 at the upper portion thereof in communication with a depending slot 60. The end plates are also provided with an offset portion 62 within which is disposed a keyhole slot 64. This keyhole slot is adapted to receive the headed stud 46 previously described whereby the feeder and waterer devices can be supported in operative position on the supporting framework. It will, of course, be understood that the end plates 52 of the feeder and waterer devices are spaced apart a distance so that the keyhole slots thereof are adapted to receive the headed studs formed on the support members 40.

More or less conventional wire restraining means is provided for each of the feeder and waterer means and is indicated generally by reference numeral 70. These wire restraining devices include a plurality of spaced parallel horizontal rods 72 interconnected with spaced parallel vertical rods 74 extending at right angles to the rods 72. These rods are all rigidly interconnected with one another to provide a grid.

The wire-restraining means 70 is mounted in desired operative relationship on each of the feeder and waterer devices by inserting laterally extending portions of one of the horizontal rods 72 within the slots 60 in the end plates of an associated feeder and waterer means, and a further laterally extending portion of one of the horizontally extending rods 72 is inserted in one of the slots 56 formed in an end plate to adjust the an gular relationship of the wire-restraining means.

A plurality of similar brooders 80 are provided, each of these brooders including a pair of opposite sidewalls 82 and 84 joining with a rear wall 86 and a front wall 88. Walls 82, 84, 86 and 88 include inwardly extending lower flanges 82', 84', 86 and 88' respectively upon which is supported a bottom wall 90 comprising an open mesh screen or the like through which droppings may pass.

An opening 94 is provided in the front wall 88, this opening being normally closed by wire-restraining means 96 including a plurality of parallel horizontal rods 93 rigidly interconnected with a plurality of parallel vertical rods 100. Two of rods 100 include curved upper end portions which fit within slots 102 provided in end wall 88 for supporting the wire-restraining means in position.

The opposite sidewalls 82 and 84 have elongated holes 110 and 112 formed therethrough respectively, these holes being adapted to be aligned with the feeder and waterer devices supported on the associated framework so that birds disposed within the brooder will have access to the interior of the feeder and waterer devices.

Means is provided for selectively closing off the holes 110 and 112 and includes a pair of track members 114 connected with sidewall 82 and a pair of track members 116 connected with sidewall 84, these track members being aligned with slots 118 and 120 respectively in the end wall 88. Panels 124 and 126 are adapted to be inserted through the slots 118 and 120 and into the guide tracks within the brooder. These panels are adapted to be slid into overlying relationship to the holes 110 and 112 to close them off when it is desired to remove the brooder from the support framework.

Access means is provided in the top of the brooder, and includes a pair of movable closure members 130 and 132 which are optionally mounted upon hinges 134 and 136 respectively so that they may be swung from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to an open position as shown in FIG. 4. The closure members are provided with suitable handles 138 which can be manually grasped for readily swinging the closure members upwardly when so desired.

The brooder is provided with laterally extending slots 140 and 142 formed in the upper side portions thereof, these two slots being aligned with one another and being adapted to receive a divider 144 which is illustrated in operative position in FIG. 4. The divider includes a transversely extending flange 146 across the upper edge thereof for facilitating manipulation of the divider. It is apparent that when the divider is inserted in the operative position shown in FIG. 4, it divides the interior of the brooder into a pair of separate pens on either side thereof.

A conventional heater means is indicated generally by reference numeral 150 and includes a heating element 152 disposed therewithin. A plurality of holes 154 are provided for allowing air to circulate through the heater means. A conven tional thermostat 156 is mounted in the rear wall of the brooder for controlling operation of the heater means. An electrical plug 160 is supported on wall 86 and is operatively connected with the heater means. The plug is adapted to be readily disconnected from a conventional electrical connector when it is desired to remove the brooder from the supporting framework.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 6, a box is secured to the upper rear portion of the framework and is connected by an electrical cord 172 with a suitable source of electrical current. The box includes a plurality of conventional electrical sockets 174. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a plug 176 is plugged into one of the sockets, and the electrical cord 178 has a socket (not shown) on the end thereof which is adapted to receive plug 160 at the rear of one of the brooders. it is apparent that this arrangement enables the heater means of each of the brooders to be readily electrically connected with a suitable power source when mounted on the supporting framework, and at the same time the electrical connection may be readily disconnected when it is desired to slide one of the brooders out of the supporting framework.

When it is desired to remove one of the brooders from the supporting framework as shown in P16. 1, the panels 124 and 126 are inserted through the slots in the end wall 88 of the brooder and into overlying relationship with respect to the holes formed in the side of the brooder. The heater means of the brooder is then disconnected at plug 160. The brooder can then be slid out of the supporting framework, and the feeder and waterer means will remain supported upon the framework.

After the brooder has been removed from the supporting framework, one of the closure members 130 and 132 can be swung upwardly and the birds herded into one end of the brooder whereupon the divider 144 is inserted in operative position. The birds can then be individually lifted out of the brooder from the access opening provided at the top thereof and placed back into the brooder through the top thereof After the desired operations have been completed, the divider can be removed and the closure members 130 and 132 again moved into the closed position as shown in H6. 1. The brooder can then be slid back into the supporting framework, whereupon the panels 124 and 126 are removed. The electrical connection can then again be made with the heater means of the brooder, and the brooder is in position for operation.

The dropping pans 30 can be readily slid out from under the associated brooders and then reinserted again into operative position as required.

it is also apparent that the feeder and waterer means can be readily removed from the supporting framework at any time and can be handled independently of the brooder means itself.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. ln brooder apparatus comprising a. a brooder having electrical heater means and hole means formed in a side of said brooder;

b. a framework for supporting said brooder; and

c. a feeder and waterer device accessible through said hole means to animals within said brooder; the improvements comprising:

i. support means, extending from said framework, for supporting said feeder and waterer device, and said framework comprising means for slidably supporting said brooder, whereby said brooder may be removed from said framework independently of said feeder and waterer device;

ii. said brooder having access means in the top thereof and including slot means for receiving a divider to divide the brooder into at least two separate pens, whereby a plurality of animals may be placed in a first of said pens, individually removed, as for treatment, through said access means in the top of the brooder, and then placed into another of said pens in the brooder without becoming intermingled with animals remaining in the first pen; and

iii. said brooder further comprising means for slidably receiving and guiding a panel for selectively closing off said hole means in the side of the brooder to prevent the unintended emergence of an animal when said feeder and waterer device and said hole means are not in alignment with one another, as when said brooder is removed from said framework.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said brooder includes electrical connecting means for providing electrical power to said heater means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frameworks includes means for slidably supporting a dropping pan beneath said brooder.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said framework comprises an open framework for receiving a plurality of brooders disposed in overlying relationship to one another.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said open framework comprises a plurality of horizontal and vertical angle members fixedly secured to one another.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim5 wherein said support means for supporting said feeder and waterer device comprises a plurality of strap members, each upstanding from a horizontal angle member of said framework, said support means further comprising a headed stud extending from the upper portion of each of said strap members and wherein said feeder and waterer device comprises a plurality of keyhole slots formed therein and so disposed to receive said headed studs for support of said feeder and waterer device, whereby said device is removably supported by said framework independently of said brooder.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for slidably supporting said brooder comprises a parallel pair of horizontal angle members having the bottom legs thereof extending towards each other and the top legs being vertical, whereby a brooder is slidably rested upon the bottom legs within the area defined by the upper legs of said angle mem bers.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said feeder and waterer device comprises a trough and a pair of end plates and further comprises angularly adjustable wire restraining means within said trough extendin between said end plates.

9. Apparatus as define in claim 1 wherein said access means comprises a movable closure member in the top of said brooder.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said movable closure member is hinged to said top of the brooder. 

1. In brooder apparatus comprising a. a brooder having electrical heater means and hole means formed in a side of said brooder; b. a framework for supporting said brooder; and c. a feeder and waterer device accessible through said hole means to animals within said brooder; the improvements comprising: i. support means, extending from said framework, for supporting said feeder and waterer device, and said framework comprising means for slidably supporting said brooder, whereby said brooder may be removed from said framework independently of said feeder and waterer device; ii. said brooder having access means in the top thereof and including slot means for receiving a divider to divide the brooder into at least two separate pens, whereby a plurality of animals may be placed in a first of said pens, individually removed, as for treatment, through said access means in the top of the brooder, and then placed into another of said pens in the brooder without becoming intermingled with animals remaining in the first pen; and iii. said brooder further comprising means for slidably receiving and guiding a panel for selectively closing off said hole means in the side of the brooder to prevent the unintended emergence of an animal when said feeder and waterer device and said hole means are not in alignment with one another, as when said brooder is removed from said framework.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said brooder includes electrical connecting means for providing electrical power to said heater means.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frameworks includes means for slidably supporting a dropping pan beneath said brooder.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said framework comprises an open framework for receiving a plurality of brooders disposed in overlying relationship to one another.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said open framework comprises a plurality of horizontal and vertical angle members fixedly secured to one another.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said support means for supporting said feeder and waterer deviCe comprises a plurality of strap members, each upstanding from a horizontal angle member of said framework, said support means further comprising a headed stud extending from the upper portion of each of said strap members and wherein said feeder and waterer device comprises a plurality of keyhole slots formed therein and so disposed to receive said headed studs for support of said feeder and waterer device, whereby said device is removably supported by said framework independently of said brooder.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for slidably supporting said brooder comprises a parallel pair of horizontal angle members having the bottom legs thereof extending towards each other and the top legs being vertical, whereby a brooder is slidably rested upon the bottom legs within the area defined by the upper legs of said angle members.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said feeder and waterer device comprises a trough and a pair of end plates and further comprises angularly adjustable wire restraining means within said trough extending between said end plates.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said access means comprises a movable closure member in the top of said brooder.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said movable closure member is hinged to said top of the brooder. 